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At least 361 records · Page 20

Theoretical aerodynamics of upper-surface-blowing jet-wing interaction

A linear, inviscid subsonic compressible flow theory is formulated to treat the aerodynamic interaction between the wing and an inviscid upper-surface-blowing (USB) thick jet with Mach number nonuniformity. The predicted results show reasonably good agreement with some available lift and induced-drag data. It was also shown that the thin-jet-flap theory is inadequate for the USB configurations with thick jet. Additional theoretical results show that the lift and induced drag were reduced by increasing jet temperature and increased by increasing jet Mach number. Reducing jet aspect ratio, while holding jet area constant, caused reductions in lift, induced drag, and pitching moment at a given angle of attack but with a minimal change in the curve of lift coefficient against induced-drag coefficient. The jet-deflection effect was shown to be beneficial to cruise performance. The aerodynamic center was shifted forward by adding power or jet-deflection angle. Moving the jet away from the wing surface resulted in rapid changes in lift and induced drag. Reducing the wing span of a rectangular wing by half decreased the jet-circulation lift by only 24 percent at a thrust coefficient of 2.

Lan, C. E.↗

Design of a laminar-flow-control supercritical airfoil for a swept wing

An airfoil was analytically designed and analyzed for a combination of supercritical flow and laminar flow control (LFC) by boundary layer suction. A shockless inverse method was used to design an airfoil and an analysis method was used in lower surface redesign work. The laminar flow pressure distributions were computed without a boundary layer under the assumption that the laminar boundary layer would be kept thin by suction. Inviscid calculations showed that this 13.5 percent thick airfoil has shockless flows for conditions at and below the design normal Mach number of 0.73 and the design section lift coefficient of 0.60, and that the maximum local normal Mach number is 1.12 at the design point. The laminar boundary layer instabilities can be controlled with suction but the undercut leading edge of the airfoil provides a low velocity, constant pressure coefficients region which is conducive to laminar flow without suction. The airfoil was designed to be capable of lift recovery with no suction by the deflection of a small trailing edge flap.

Allison, D. O.↗

An Investigation of Airplane Landing Speeds

This paper describes an investigation on airplane landing speeds which was made to determine the applicability of accepted aerodynamic theory to the prediction of this particular performance characteristic. The experimental work consisted in measuring the landing speed of several monoplanes by a new photographic method. The results of these tests supplemented by available information regarding biplanes were compared with predictions made with basic aerodynamic theory. The prediction makes use of the fundamental relation between wing loading, lift coefficient, and speed of level flight, and the effects of aspect ratio and proximity to the ground on lift curve slope.

LANDING SPEED - BIPLANES↗

Experimental Investigation of Ice Accretion Effects on a Swept Wing

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the effects of 2-, 5-, 10-, and 22.5-min ice accretions on the aerodynamic performance of a swept finite wing. The ice shapes tested included castings of ice accretions obtained from icing tests at the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) and simulated ice shapes obtained with the LEWICE 2.0 ice accretion code. The conditions used for the icing tests were selected to provide five glaze ice shapes with complete and incomplete scallop features and a small rime ice shape. The LEWICE ice shapes were defined for the same conditions as those used in the icing tests. All aerodynamic performance tests were conducted in the 7- x 10-ft Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Facility at Wichita State University. Six component force and moment measurements, aileron hinge moments, and surface pressures were obtained for a Reynolds number of 1.8 million based on mean aerodynamic chord and aileron deflections in the range of -15o to 20o. Tests were performed with the clean wing, six IRT ice shape castings, seven smooth LEWICE ice shapes, and seven rough LEWICE ice shapes. Roughness for the LEWICE ice shapes was simulated with 36-size grit. The experiments conducted showed that the glaze ice castings reduced the maximum lift coefficient of the clean wing by 11.5% to 93.6%, while the 5-min rime ice casting increased maximum lift by 3.4%. Minimum iced wing drag was 133% to 3533% greater with respect to the clean case. The drag of the iced wing near the clean wing stall angle of attack was 17% to 104% higher than that of the clean case. In general, the aileron remained effective in changing the lift of the clean and iced wings for all angles of attack and aileron deflections tested. Aileron hinge moments for the iced wing cases remained within the maximum and minimum limits defined by the clean wing hinge moments. Tests conducted with the LEWICE ice shapes showed that in general the trends in aerodynamic performance degradation of the wing with the simulated ice shapes were similar to those obtained with the IRT ice shape castings. However, in most cases, the ice castings resulted in greater aerodynamic performance losses than those obtained with the LEWICE ice shapes. For the majority of the LEWICE ice shapes, the addition of 36-size grit roughness to the smooth ice shapes increased aerodynamic performance losses.

Ice shape↗

Determination of the Stability and Control Characteristics of a Tailless All-Wing Airplane Model with Sweepback in the Langley Free-Flight Tunnel

Force and flight tests were performance on an all-wing model with windmilling propellers. Tests were conducted with deflected and retracted flaps, with and without auxiliary vertical tail surfaces, and with different centers of gravity and trim coefficients. Results indicate serious reduction of stick-fixed longitudinal stability because of wing-tip stalling at high lift coefficient. Directional stability without vertical tail is undesirably low. Low effective dihedral should be maintained. Elevator and rudder control system is satisfactory.

WING FLAPS - DEFLECTION↗

The Effect of Beam Loading on Water Impact Loads and Motions

An investigation of the effect of beam loading on impact loads and motions has been conducted in the Langley impact basin. Water impact tests of flat-bottom 5-inch- and 8-inch-beam models having beam-loading coefficients C(sub Delta) from 62.5 to 544 and a 30 0 dead-rise 5-inch-beam model A having beam-loading coefficients from 208 to 530 are described and the results analyzed to show trends of these heavy-beam-loading data with initial flight-path angle, trim angle, dead-rise angle, and time throughout the impact. Data from flat-bottom model tests, C(sub Delta) = 4.4 to 36.5, and from 300 dead-rise model tests, C(sub Delta)A = 0.58 and 18.8, are included, along with the heavy-beam-loading data; and variations of these data with beam-loading coefficients are shown. Each of the load and motion coefficients is found to be directly proportional to a power factor ofC(sub Delta). For instance, the maximum impact lift coefficient C(sub L,max)is found to be directly proportional to C(sub Delta)(sup 0.33) for the flat-bottom model and C(sub Delta)(sup 0.45) for the 30 deg dead-rise model. These variations of C(sub L,max) C(sub Delta) are found to be in agreement with theoretical variations. Finally, an empirical equation for the prediction of C(sub L,max) is presented and is shown to give good agreement with experimental C(sub L,max) for about 500 fixed-trim smooth-water impacts. The range of variables included dead-rise angles from 0 deg to 30 deg, beam-loading coefficients from 0.48 to 544, trim angles from 3 deg to 45 deg and initial flight-path angles from about 2 deg to about 27 deg.

Mixson, John S.↗

Comparison of supercritical and conventional wing flutter characteristics

A wind-tunnel study was undertaken to directly compare the measured flutter boundaries of two dynamically similar aeroelastic models which had the same planform, maximum thickness-to-chord ratio, and as nearly identical stiffness and mass distributions as possible, with one wing having a supercritical airfoil and the other a conventional airfoil. The considerations and problems associated with flutter testing supercritical wing models at or near design lift coefficients are discussed, and the measured transonic boundaries of the two wings are compared with boundaries calculated with a subsonic lifting surface theory.

Farmer, M. G.↗

The Factors that Determine the Minimum Speed of an Airplane

The author argues that because of a general misunderstanding of the principles of flight at low speed, there are a large number of airplanes that could be made to fly several miles per hour slower than at present by making slight modifications. In order to show how greatly the wing section affects the minimum speed, curves are plotted against various loadings. The disposition of wings on the airplane slightly affects the lift coefficient, and a few such cases are discussed. Another factor that has an effect on minimum speed is the extra lift exerted by the slip stream on the wings. Also discussed are procedures to be followed by the pilot, especially with regard to stick movements during low speed flight. Also covered are stalling, yaw, rolling moments, lateral control, and the effectiveness of ailerons and rudders.

AIRPLANES - SPEED AND POWER AIRPLANE - SPEED↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of a propeller-powered high-lift semispan wing

A small-scale semispan high-lift wing-flap system equipped under the wing with a turboprop engine assembly was tested in the LaRC 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. Experimental data were obtained for various propeller rotational speeds, nacelle locations, and nacelle inclinations. To isolate the effects of the high lift system, data were obtained with and without the flaps and leading-edge device. The effects of the propeller slipstream on the overall longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of the wing-propeller assembly were examined. Test results indicated that the lift coefficient of the wing could be increased by the propeller slipstream when the rotational speed was increased and high-lift devices were deployed. Decreasing the nacelle inclination (increased pitch down) enhanced the lift performance of the system much more than varying the vertical or horizontal location of the nacelle. Furthermore, decreasing the nacelle inclination led to higher lift curve slope values, which indicated that the powered wing could sustain higher angles of attack near maximum lift performance. Any lift augmentation was accompanied by a drag penalty due to the increased wing lift.

Gentry, Garl L., Jr.↗

The Effect of Beam Loading on Water Impact Loads and Motions

An investigation of the effect of beam loading on impact loads and motions has been conducted in the Langley impact basin. Water impact tests of flat-bottom 5-inch-and 8-inch-beam models having beam-loading coefficients C(sub Delta) from 62.5 to 544 and a 30 deg dead-rise 5-inch-beam model A having beam-loading coefficients from 208 to 530 are described and the results analyzed to show trends of these heavy-beam-loading data with initial flight-path angle, trim angle, dead-rise angle, and time through- out the impact. Data from flat-bottom model tests, C(sub Delta) = 4.4 to 36.5, and from 30 deg dead-rise model tests, C(sub Delta) = 0.58 and 18.8, are included, along with the heavy-beam-loading data; and variations of these data with beam-loading coefficients are shown. Each of the load and motion coefficients is found to be directly proportional to a power factor of C(sub Delta). For instance, the maximum impact lift coefficient is found C(sub L,max) to be directly proportional to C(sub Delta, exp 0,33) for the flat-bottom model and C(sub Delta, exp 0,45) for the 30 deg dead-rise model. These variations of C(sub L, max) with C(sub Delta) are found to be in agreement with theoretical variations. Finally, an empirical equation for the prediction of C(sub L,max) is presented and is shown to give good agreement with experimental C(sub L, max) for about 500 fixed-trim smooth-water impacts. The range of variables included dead-rise angles from 0 deg to deg, beam-loading coefficients from o.48 to 544, trim angles from 3 deg to deg, and initial flight-path angles from about 2 deg to about deg.

Mixson, John S.↗

Lift and Drag of a Swept-Wing Fighter Airplane at Transonic and Supersonic Speeds

A flight investigation was made of the lift and drag of a sweptwing fighter airplane in the basic configuration and in a slats-locked-closed configuration over a Mach number range from about 0.63 to about 1.44. At a nominal lift coefficient of 0.1 negligible drag-coefficient difference existed between the two configurations over a comparable Mach number and altitude range. For the basic configuration at zero lift the supersonic drag level was about three times as great as the subsonic drag level, which was about 0.01, whereas the drag-due-to-lift factor increased about 137 percent over the test Mach number range. At comparable Mach numbers the high-altitude data produced a larger lift-curve slope and showed a more pronounced variation of lift-curve slope in the transonic region than did the low-altitude data. For the high-altitude data the lift-curve slope at a Mach number of 1.44 was approximately 62 percent of the value at a Mach number of 0.9.

SWEPT WING↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of a propeller powered high lift semispan wing

An experimental investigation was conducted on the engine/airframe integration aerodynamics for potential high-lift aircraft configurations. The model consisted of a semispan wing with a double-isolated flap system and a Krueger leading edge device. The advanced propeller and the powered nacelle were tested and aerodynamic characteristics of the combined system are presented. It was found that the lift coefficient of the powered wing could be increased by the propeller slipstream when the rotational speed was increased and high-lift devices were deployed. Moving the nacelle/propeller closer to the wing in the vertical direction indicated higher lift augmentation than a shift in the longitudinal direction. A pitch-down nacelle inclination enhanced the lift performance of the system much better than vertical and horizontal variation of the nacelle locations and showed that the powered wing can sustain higher angles of attack near maximum lift performance.

Takallu, M. A.↗

The Effectiveness at High Speeds of a 20-Percent-Chord Plain Trailing-Edge Flap on the NACA 65-210 Airfoil

An analysis has been made of the lift control effectiveness of a 20-percent-chord plain trailing-edge flap on the NACA 65-210 airfoil section from section lift-coefficient data obtained at Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.875. In addition, the effectiveness of the plain flap as a lift-control device has been compared with the corresponding effectiveness of both a spoiler and a dive-recovery flap on the NACA 65-210 airfoil section. The analysis indicates that the plain trailing-edge flap employed on the 10-percent-thick airfoil at Mach numbers as high as 0.875 retains at least 50-percent of its low-speed lift-control effectiveness, and is sufficiently effective in lateral control application, assuming a rigid wing, to provide adequate airplane rolling characteristics. The plain trailing-edge flap, as compared to the spoiler and the dive-recovery flap, appears to afford the most favorable characteristics as a device for controlling lift continuously throughout the range of Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.875. At Mach numbers above those for lift divergence of the wing, either a plain flap or a dive-recovery flap may be used on a thin airplane wing to provide auxiliary wing lift when the airplane is to be controlled in flight, other than in dives, at these Mach numbers. The choice of a lift-control device for this use, however, should include the consideration of other factors such as the increments of drag and pitching moment accompanying the use of the device, and the structural and high-speed aerodynamic characteristics of the airplane which is to employ the device.

Stivers, Louis S., Jr.↗

The Effectiveness at High Speeds of a 20-Percent-chord Plain Trailing-edge Flap on the NACA 65-210 Airfoil Section

An analysis has been made of the lift-control effectiveness of a 20-percent-chord plain trailing-edge flap on the NACA 65-210 airfoil section from section lift-coefficient data obtained at Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.875. In addition, the effectiveness of the plain flap as a lift-control device has been compared with the corresponding effectiveness of both a spoiler and a dive-recovery flag on the INCA 65-210 airfoil section.

Stivers, Louis S., Jr.↗

Scaling of Lift Degradation Due to Anti-Icing Fluids Based Upon the Aerodynamic Acceptance Test

In recent years, the FAA has worked with Transport Canada, National Research Council Canada (NRC) and APS Aviation, Inc. to develop allowance times for aircraft operations in ice-pellet precipitation. These allowance times are critical to ensure safety and efficient operation of commercial and cargo flights. Wind-tunnel testing with uncontaminated anti-icing fluids and fluids contaminated with simulated ice pellets had been carried out at the NRC Propulsion and Icing Wind Tunnel (PIWT) to better understand the flow-off characteristics and resulting aerodynamic effects. The percent lift loss on the thin, high-performance wing model tested in the PIWT was determined at 8 deg. angle of attack and used as one of the evaluation criteria in determining the allowance times. Because it was unclear as to how performance degradations measured on this model were relevant to an actual airplane configuration, some means of interpreting the wing model lift loss was deemed necessary. This paper describes how the lift loss was related to the loss in maximum lift of a Boeing 737-200ADV airplane through the Aerodynamic Acceptance Test (AAT) performed for fluids qualification. A loss in maximum lift coefficient of 5.24% on the B737-200ADV airplane (which was adopted as the threshold in the AAT) corresponds to a lift loss of 7.3% on the PIWT model at 8 deg. angle of attack. There is significant scatter in the data used to develop the correlation related to varying effects of the anti-icing fluids that were tested and other factors. A statistical analysis indicated the upper limit of lift loss on the PIWT model was 9.2%. Therefore, for cases resulting in PIWT model lift loss from 7.3% to 9.2%, extra scrutiny of the visual observations is required in evaluating fluid performance with contamination.

Broeren, Andy↗

An airfoil for general aviation applications

A new airfoil, the NLF(1)-0115, has been recently designed at the NASA Langley Research Center for use in general-aviation applications. During the development of this airfoil, special emphasis was placed on experiences and observations gleaned from other successful general-aviation airfoils. For example, the flight lift-coefficient range is the same as that of the turbulent-flow NACA 23015 airfoil. Also, although beneficial for reducing drag and having large amounts of lift, the NLF(1)-0115 avoids the use of aft loading which can lead to large stick forces if utilized on portions of the wing having ailerons. Furthermore, not using aft loading eliminates the concern that the high pitching-moment coefficient generated by such airfoils can result in large trim drags if cruise flaps are not employed. The NASA NLF(1)-0115 has a thickness of 15 percent. It is designed primarily for general-aviation aircraft with wing loadings of 718 to 958 N/sq m (15 to 20 lb/sq ft). Low profile drag as a result of laminar flow is obtained over the range from c sub l = 0.1 and R = 9x10(exp 6) (the cruise condition) to c sub l = 0.6 and R = 4 x 10(exp 6) (the climb condition). While this airfoil can be used with flaps, it is designed to achieve c(sub l, max) = 1.5 at R = 2.6 x 10(exp 6) without flaps. The zero-lift pitching moment is held at c sub m sub o = 0.055. The hinge moment for a .20c aileron is fixed at a value equal to that of the NACA 63 sub 2-215 airfoil, c sub h = 0.00216. The loss in c (sub l, max) due to leading edge roughness, rain, or insects at R = 2.6 x 10 (exp 6) is 11 percent as compared with 14 percent for the NACA 23015.

Selig, Michael S.↗

Normal loads program for aerodynamic lifting surface theory

A description of and users manual are presented for a U.S.A. FORTRAN 4 computer program which evaluates spanwise and chordwise loading distributions, lift coefficient, pitching moment coefficient, and other stability derivatives for thin wings in linearized, steady, subsonic flow. The program is based on a kernel function method lifting surface theory and is applicable to a large class of planforms including asymmetrical ones and ones with mixed straight and curved edges.

Medan, R. T.↗

Effects of Nacelle configuration/position on performance of subsonic transport

An experimental study was conducted to explore possible reductions in installed propulsion system drag due to underwing aft nacelle locations. Both circular (C) and D inlet cross section nacelles were tested. The primary objectives were: to determine the relative installed drag of the C and D nacelle installations; and, to compare the drag of each aft nacelle installation with that of a conventional underwing forward, drag of each aft nacelle installation with that of a conventional underwing forward, pylon mounted (UTW) nacelle installation. The tests were performed in the NASA-Langley Research Center 16-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.85, airplane angles of attack from -2.5 to 4.1 degrees, and Reynolds numbers per foot from 3.4 to 4.0 million. The nacelles were installed on the NASA USB full span transonic transport model with horizontal tail on. The D nacelle installation had the smallest drag of those tested. The UTW nacelle installation had the largest drag, at 6.8 percent larger than the D at Mach number 0.80 and lift coefficient (C sub L) 0.45. Each tested configuration still had some interference drag, however. The effect of the aft nacelles on airplane lift was to increase C sub L at a fixed angle of attack relative to the wing body. There was higher lift on the inboard wing sections because of higher pressures on the wing lower surface. The effects of the UTW installation on lift were opposite to those of the aft nacelles.

Bangert, L. H.↗